[Craig Nigrelli]

REPORTS FROM SOUTH KOREA’S NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE SERVICE REVEAL THAT NORTH KOREA HAS SENT TROOPS TO RUSSIA TO SUPPORT ITS WAR IN UKRAINE, WITH THOUSANDS MORE EXPECTED TO FOLLOW.

ACCORDING TO THE NIS, RUSSIAN NAVAL SHIPS TRANSPORTED 1,500 NORTH KOREAN SPECIAL FORCES TO a major port city, BETWEEN OCTOBER 8 AND 13. MORE TROOPS ARE ANTICIPATED IN THE COMING WEEKS.

THESE SOLDIERS, NOW EQUIPPED WITH RUSSIAN MILITARY UNIFORMS AND WEAPONS, ARE REPORTEDLY STATIONED AT KEY BASES ACROSS RUSSIA. INTELLIGENCE SUGGESTS THEY WILL BE DEPLOYED TO THE FRONT LINES ONCE THEIR TRAINING IS COMPLETE.

UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY WARNED THAT NORTH KOREA’S INVOLVEMENT COULD ESCALATE THE WAR INTO A BROADER CRISIS, WITH REPORTS SUGGESTING THAT UP TO 10-THOUSAND NORTH KOREAN SOLDIERS ARE PREPARING FOR DEPLOYMENT.

SOUTH KOREA’S PRESIDENT CONVENED AN EMERGENCY CABINET MEETING friday, CALLING THE TROOP DEPLOYMENT A “GRAVE SECURITY THREAT” TO THE REGION AND THE WORLD.

THIS MILITARY ASSISTANCE IS PART OF BROADER COOPERATION BETWEEN MOSCOW AND PYONGYANG, WHICH SIGNED A MUTUAL DEFENSE PACT EARLIER THIS YEAR. IN ADDITION TO TROOPS, NORTH KOREA HAS REPORTEDLY SUPPLIED RUSSIA WITH ARTILLERY, MISSILES, AND OTHER WEAPONS.

NATO AND U.S. OFFICIALS ARE CLOSELY MONITORING THE SITUATION, EXPRESSING CONCERN OVER NORTH KOREA’S INVOLVEMENT. THEY BELIEVE NORTH KOREA MAY HAVE RECEIVED MUCH-NEEDED FOOD, ECONOMIC AID, AND TECHNOLOGICAL SUPPORT IN RETURN. HOWEVER, BOTH MOSCOW AND PYONGYANG HAVE CONSISTENTLY DENIED ANY ARMS DEALS BETWEEN THEM.

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